Welded sheet metal golf shaft and method of making the same



March 23, 1937.. c. LAGE RB LADE 2,074,987

I WELDED SHEI ST METAL GOLF SHAFT "AND METHOD OF MAKING THE SAME Filed Oct. 8. 1932 E31; E32 Fig.9. F1310. F9312 Fig.3.

. f T P I STA-TES-QPATENT r oFFicE The. Horton Manufacturinrcompany, a corporation of Connecticut Application oceober-s, 19s2,--s riei no. 686,851 22' (Jlaims. (01. 29-156) My invention relates to welded sheet metal Still further Objects of my invention are to progolf shafts and methods of making the same, vide an improved welded strip and improved It .has heretofore been proposed to produce blanks adapted to be formed in the various steps polygonal or hexagonal shafts of this type havof my improved method and used with my im- I inga ground ofl strip of'welding material, such 1 proved strip in an improved manner. These and 5 as taught in the Emmet and Thorpe Patent other objects and advantages of my improved 1,550,153 or my prior Patent 1,783,802, disposed construction will, however, hereinafter more fully longitudinally of the middle of one of the fiat appear. v sides, and a heavy welded section of steel and In the accompanying drawing, I have shown copper inside thefiat side and underlying both for purposes of illustration one embodiment of m edges of a slot in which the ground oif portion is my improved shaft and of my improved method welded, while spaced from both adjacent comers for producing the same, with the several improved of the flat side. Further, in making such shafts blanks and the improved welding strip also being in accordance with the'patents mentioned, the illustrated in connection with the latter.

l5 shafthas been formed completely with a slot in In the drawing, the middle of the side in question and it has been Figure 1 is a plan view of the first form of fiat necessary to make relatively expensive welding blank; A strips of steel or combined steel and copper, to Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same after the first subject the shaft with the strip inserted therein forming operation;

to anironing operation to position the strip pre- Fig. 3 is an end view of the blank shown in. 20

paratory to wrapping and welding, and after Fig. 1; welding to grind 0d the protruding portion of the Fig. 4 is a combined view showing enlarged strip. Thus, due not only to the steps required, opposite end views of the larger and smaller but the cost of material in the strips, such shafts ends of the blank after the first forming operahave been relatively expensive to produce; while tion;

the shafts themselves have also been subject to- Fig. 5 is a similar view showing those ends after objections as regards weight, balance, resiliency the second forming operation; and ap arance. Fig. 6 is a similar view after the third forming My invention has among its objects-to provide operation; an improved polygonal or hexagonal shaft of this Fig. 7 is a similar view showing the same after 30 type having'an improved and lighter welded secthe fourth-forming operation;

tion of an improved lapped seam construction and Fig. 8 is a similar view showing my improved disposed inanim'proved location, and such ashaft welding strip drawn. into the blank shown inwhich is better balanced'and has increased re- Fig. 7;

3:5 siliency, at the same time that it has an improved Fig. 9 is a plan view of a blank wrapped in appearance and is capable of being produced ,at asbestos ready for the welding operation;

a very substantially reduced cost. A further ob- Fig. 10 is a top plan view of the finished shaft; ject of my invention is to provide an improved Fig. 11 is a view similar to Figures 4 to 8 showmethod of making such shafts, whereby it is made ing the opposite ends of the welded shaft;

possible to finally shape the shaft, portion by por- Fig. 12 is a plan view of my improved welding 40 tion, in a progressive manner during the several strip shown' in Fig. 8; forming p ns performed 011 the blank, 80 Fig. 13 is an enlarged end view of the same, and 1 that as the blank is operated on each part thereof Fig. 14 is an enlarged perspective view of this is given'its ultimate shape in the finished shaft, strip.

thus to eliminate various steps and operations Referringfirst to my improved method, it will 45 in the previous methods and especially those steps be noted that I first form a fiat tapered blank i, of the previous methods whichrequired grinding shown in Figures 1 and 3, which is of any desired away steel projections and longitudinally groovlength and formed of a thin sheet -of steel having ing or otherwise drastically reshaping the shaft smooth imperforate like edge portions, although following the welding of the same and, by imthe thickness is, of course, subject to variation as 50 proved steps, reduce the weight and expense of in previous methods.

the metal used in the welded section and sub- This blank I is first subjected to a series of stantlally facilitate the manufacture of such forming operationaherein, as preferably, four in shafts, while also substantially reducing the cost number and acting to form the body Ofthe shaft,

of manufacture and producing an improved shaft. step by step into hexagonal form while providing 55 means for producing a new and effective weld between the fiat generally parallel edge portions in a new location along one edge of a flat side and terminating at a corner.

Of these, the first is preferably a press operation which is performed slightly to one side of the center of the blank. It results, as shown in Fig. 4, in the complete forming of the lower half of the hexagonal shaft, 1. e. in forming the three lower fiat faces 2 of the shaft and the two lower corners 2', while also forming upstanding tapered sides 3 and 4 of different width with the side 3 substantially wider than the side 4. Herein, where a shaft is being made which, while hexagonal substantially throughout its length, is also round for a short distance at its head carrying extremity, it will also be noted that at the latter end the lower round half of the shaft is also formed in this operation, as shown at 5. As

regards the sides, it will also be noted that the sides 6 and 1 of the round portion 5 are also tapered and of different width, with the side I wider than the side 6, while these sides also diverge slightly from one another above a transverse line I passing through the center of the shaft above the formed portion thereof. The sides 3 and 4 in the hexagonal portion of the shaft, on the other hand, extend vertically upward above the line-8 as shown at one end of the blank, and, of

course, merge into the sides 6 and 1 toward the other end of the blank.

The second forming operation, which also is preferably a press operation in which dies press the sides 3, 4 toward one another, results, as shown in Fig. 5, in further forming the hexagonal section of the shaft by completing comers 9 at the line 8 and bending the sides 3, 4 toward one another. Here, it will be noted that the wide side 3 and narrow side 4 are bent inward to an equal extent so that an extension of the side 4 would intersect the side 3 in a vertical line extending through the axis. Thus, two additional corhers and two additional flat surfaces are formed at the same time that the upper extremities of the sides 3 and 4 are disposed above what will be the remaining flat surface. At the round end of the blank, the sides 6 and l are also similarly bent toward one another, at the same time that the I erably a press operation, leaves the side 4 undisturbed, as shown in Figure 6. However, in this operation, the side 3 is bent downward over the side linto overlapping relation abutting the latter adjacent the edge thereof, while the side 3 is also bent to form acorner i0 between it and the next adiacent lower flat surface, thus also carrying further the hexagonal forming operation. At the same time, the side 0 on the round end of the blank is bent further inward into substantially round form with its edge under and located substantisiiybelowtheedgeofthesideLwhilethe round forming operation is also carried slightly higherontheiattersndtheupperendofthis side is slightly lowered.

The fourth forming operation. which is a closin! operation, and also preferably performed in apress,results,asshowninl"lgure7, inbending the remainder of the side 4 downward and forming the last remaining corner ll,while also forming a short laterally and inwardly projecting horizontal supporting edge portion if of the remainder of the side 4. Here, it will also be noted that the side 3 is brought into resilient engagement with the edge i2, and that the portion 3 5 is slightly angularly disposed just above parallelism with the corresponding opposite, or bottom, flat face 2. Thus, it will be noted that a lateral welding strip receiving opening is provided leading inward to the inner edge of the 10 portion i2 which is resiliently engaged by the lower surface of the part 3 at a point spaced from the edge thereof. It will also be noted that herein, as in practice, the portion 3 is of such slightly greater length than this edge l2 that the extreml5 ity of the portion 3 is located slightly beyond the corner ll. At the opposite or round and of the blank, it will also be noted that the end I is further rounded and brought down so that it is just above the edge of the portion 5, though with a 20 slight welding strip receiving gap therebetween,

since this portion of the shaft is formed on a radius.

With the body of the blank thus formed in an improved manner into hexagonal and round 25 portions, the next step is the insertion of an improved welding strip between the overlapped edges 3, i2 and 6, I. This strip herein is in the form of a thin shim ll of suitable welding metal such as copper. In a preferred form, the same 30 has a thickness of .003 of an inch, although the thickness may be varied, slightly thicker or thinner strips, for example, between .001 and .005, being usable under varying conditions. Herein, this shim is also entirely fiat and quite narrow, 35 a width of of an inch being found well suited to my purpose. If desired, this shim may be inserted between the overlapping edges from the side upon slightly springing the edges apart but the same is preferably inserted by drawing the 40 same in longitudinally between the overlapped portions 3, l2 and 1, 6. Further, it will be noted that, since the overlapping portions. in the hexagonal portion of the shaft press toward each other, these engage and hold the shim l3 in 45 position between the same and thus eliminate all necessity for providing any means for retaining the shim in position. Ordinarily, with theshim thus positioned in the hexagonal portion of the blank by the spring pressure of the edges, 50 the same when thus inserted is also retained in position by the portions I, G in the shorter rounded portion of the blank. As regards the lateral position of the shim l3 between the overlapping portions, it will also be noted that at one end one edge of the shim is preferably disposed slightly within the outer edge of the por-- tion 3 while extending increasingly beyond the latter toward the other end of the blank, and that the shim is preferably of such width as to 00 extend throughout its length beyond the opposite extremity of the edge portion It by an amolmt substantially equal at the width of that edge, as shown in Fig. 8. This arrangement, while requiring a minimum of copper to be inserted 65 between the overlapped edges and thus producing-a. desirable metal to metal copper-steel alloy weld, is further very effective since it results in only a minimum of copper on the exterior of the shaft after welding.

' After the insertion of the shim l3 and while the latter is heldin place by the holding action oftheedges,asshownini ig.8,theblankis next ironed to bring the portions 3, l2 and ,0, I J into their final position ready for welding, and

then is wrapped in asbestos tape, as shown in Fig. 9. After being so wrapped, the blank is then welded, preferably in a suitable hydrogen'atmosphere, in such manner as to cause the copper in the shim l3 to be melted and unite the over,-

lapped edge portions 'in a secure uninterrupted metal to metal copper-steel alloy weld throughout the length of the blank as shown in Fig. 11. The welded shaft is next heat treated and also straightened, if necessary, and then polished, the extremity of the portion 3 which projects beyond the corner II, also preferably being polished of! in this operation to complete the formation of the hexagonal shaft, while the edge of the l5 portion 1 of the rounded portion of the shaft is similarly removed. Obviously, of course, the shaft may thereafter be suitably coated or plated asdesired to prevent rust or to apply any desired finish to the same.

20 As a result of my improvements, it will be noted that a shaft is produced, which has a substantiallylighterwelded section and is therefore better balanced and has greater resiliency, the'weight of my entire welded section includ- 25 ing the'overlapped portions and the welding material being less than theweight of merely the strips heretofore added to the shaft. Further,

dige'to my improved welded section, and the location of the same at a corner with two edges 30 of theshaft united together, a stronger shaft is produced. At the same time a ore attractive shaft is produced, the location in the .corner making the joint far less noticeable than a joint in the middle of a fiat hexagonal surface. In 35 addition, a shaft may be produced at substantially less expense, the saving amounting to several cents per shaft. As regards the method, it

strip and due to the fact that the strip is held so by the resilient action of the edges, it will be observed that all necessity for providing any holding means on thestrip is eliminated. Thus all interlocking members at the overlapped joint are eliminated and a homogeneous alloy weld is 55 provided between the like smooth edge portions which forms the sole connection between these overlapped portions. Due to the shim used, wider than the overlap, the shim is also sufliciently strong to permit a simple and easy drawing in so operation without breakage. The fact that no portion of the strip remains on the exterior of the shaft, also eliminates any necessity for grindhis off the same. These and other advantages of my improved construction will, however, be ape5 wentto those skilled in the m.

In carrying out my invention, it will be evident that if desired, a shaft may be produced which is hexagonal in cross section throughout its length, as distinct. from rounded at its head to carrying, end, as described herein. Also if it is desired. to roundthe shaftat the grip carrying end, such a shaft may be readily formed by also to the grip carrying end in a manner similar to therounded head carrying end and in the 7 e operations herein described. It will, of

course, also be evident that if, for. any reason, it is desired to extend the rounded portion above the head carrying end or below the grip, this also may be done. vOf course, if desired, a wholly round form. of shaft may also be produced, by applying to the whole shaft the forming operations described herein in connection with the round end of the shaft shown herein, although I prefer to make such wholly round shafts in accordance with the teachings of a companion application filed under even date herewith.

While I have in this application specifically de-' scribed one embodiment of my improved shaft, and one method of making the same, it will be understood that these forms of the same are so shown for illustrative purposes and that my invention may be modified and embodied in various other forms without departing from its spirit or the scope of the appended-claims.

'What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:-

1. A golf or other shaft having a tapered polygonal sheet metal body portion and a welded section having its exposed joint wholly in one corner of said polygonal body betweemadjacent overlyingportions.

2. A golf or other shaft having a tapered polygonal sheet metal body portion having an uninterrupted periphery and a welded section in said periphery having an overlying edge portion adjacent one corner and having its extremity terminating substantially in the plane of an adjacent face.

3. A golf or other shaft having a tapered polygonal sheet metal body portion and a welded section having its exposed joint wholly in one corner of said polygonal body, and an inner re.-

section comprising an' overlapping smooth imone corner of said polygonal body including. an

overlying edge portion formed on the extremity of one face and an inner reinforcing strip formed on the edge of an adjacent face and underlying said overlying edge portion.

6. A golf or other shaft having a tapered sheet metal body portion of polygonal cross section throughout a portion of its length and rounded cross'section throughout the remainder of its length, and having a welded section extending longitudinally thereof and comprising '7.- A golf or other shaft having a tapered sheet metalbody portion of polygonal external and internal cross section throughout a portion of its length and rounded external cross section throughout the remainder of its length, said shaft having said portion of rounded cross section at the smaller end of the same.

8. A sheet metal blank for golf or other shafts comprising a tapered trough like body portion of polygonal cross section at its bottomthroughout a portion of its length, and of rounded cross section at its bottom throughout the remainder,

of its length, and also having upstanding vertialigned overlapping flat and rounded portions.

erally deflected tapered face forming portion overlying its top and a relatively angularly disposed narrower tapered face forming portion having its upper edge underlying the free edge of said first mentioned portion.

11. A blank for golf or other shafts comprising a tapered body portion of polygonal cross section substantially to its top throughout a portion of its length and a body portion of rounded cross section throughout the remainder of its length, and having laterally deflected tapered edge portions overlying the top of said polygonal and rounded portions, and relatively angularly disposed narrower tapered edge portions having their upper edgesunderlying the free edges of said first mentioned portions.

12. A blank for golf or other shafts comprising a tapered sheet metal body portion of polygonal cross section from top to bottom, and having an underlying edge portion on one corner thereof, and a face portion projecting laterally from an adjacent corner and overlying said 'edge portion, said polygonal cross section extending throughout a portion of the length of the blank and the remainder of the length thereof being of rounded cross section with overlapping edges.

13. The method of making golf or other shafts which consists in, forming a sheet metal blank of polygonal cross section having flat overlapping smooth edge portions on adjacent faces, and welding said overlapping flat portions together with the overlying edge portion terminating at the corner between said faces.

14. The steps of making golf or other shafts which consist in, forming a sheet metal shaft blank of polygonal cross section having like tapered overlapping smooth imperforate edge Por tions on adjacent faces resiliently engaging each other, and inserting a shim of welding material between the resiliently engaging overlapping edge portions.

15. The steps of making golf or other shafts which consist in, forming a sheet metal shaft blank of polygonal cross section having like .resilientlv engaging tapered overlapping smooth imperforate edge portions on adjacent faces, and

inserting a flat shim of welding material between which consist in, forming a polygonal shaft blank said flat face portions are pressed together to form a seam in said corner.

17. The method of making tapered polygonal golf or other shafts which consists in, progressively forming the different face portions from the bottom toward the top of the blank, forming one side face while forming an inwardlyproject ing edge portion thereon resiliently engageable with the top face and supporting the latter, and welding said edge portion to the edge portion of said top face.

18. The steps of making tapered polygonal golf or other shafts having welded overlapped seams which consist in, finally shaping the several portions of the shaft body by progressively forming different face portions of the polygonal tapered body thereof in successive steps while forming a tapered overlapping edge portion adapted to form the last face and an overlapped support therefor formed on the extremity of an'adjacent face, whereby to produce the ultimate shape of said shaft prior to welding the same.

19. The steps of making tapered polygonal golf or other shafts which consist in finally shaping the several portions of the shaft body by progressively forming different face portions of the polygonal tapered body thereof in successive steps while forming a tapered overlapping edge portion adapted to form'the last face and resiliently engaging an overlapped support therefor formed on the extremity of an adjacent face, drawing in a shim of welding material between said resiliently engaging overlapping'portions, and Welding said portions together.

20. The method of making golf or other shafts which consists in, forming a sheet metal blank having like smooth imperforate edge portions into a tapered body of final cross section throughout I 21. The steps of'making polygonal golf or other shafts which consist in, forming a flat tapered blank, pressing the same at one side of its longitudinal center line to form a finished portion of a polygonal body while forming above the latter incompleted portions of saidbody including upstanding tapered sides of different height throughout their length, bringing said sides into overlapping resiliently engaging relation while further forming said polygonal body, inserting a shim of welding material between the overlapped portions, ironing said portions, wrapping the blank in asbestos, and welding the same.

22. The method of making polygonal golf or other shafts which consists in, forming a flat tapered blank having like smooth imperforate edge portions, pressing the same at one side of its longitudinal center line to polygonal form to finish the lower half of the polygonal body while forming above the latter upstanding tapered'flat sides, bringing said sides into overlapping generally parallel relation while shaping them into polygonal form and while bringing the seam into one corner,'and welding the overlap to form the seam in said corner.

HERBERT C. LAGERBLADE.

I CERTIFICATE OF 'coRR'EcTIoN.

Patent No. 2,074,987. 7 t c March 26,1937.

' I HERBERT c. LAGERBLADE.

It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows: Page 4, first column, lines 71 and '72, claim 16, strike out the comma and words ironing said portions"; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with this correction therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Officer a Signed and sealed this 1st day of June, A. D. 1937.

. v I Henry Van Arsdale (seal) 7 q f CommissioneroLPatents. 

